Flying W. Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cedaredge, Colorado 81419
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 14:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 35. While in the landing flare, the wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind, resulting in a 15-20 knot tailwind and an increased groundspeed. The pilot stated that he attempted a go-around procedure. The airplane stalled and fell "about 15 feet onto a fence and rocks along the fence", causing substantial damage. According to the pilot, the wind was 160 at 12 knots with gusts of 18 knots and there was light turbulence at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and the pilot's improper in-flight planning. Contributing to the accident was the wind shift, resultant tailwind, and the inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Cedaredge
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81419
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385156N
Event Location Longitude 1074922W
Event Location Airport Flying W. Ranch Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CO20
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6885
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1430 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KMTJ
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18776
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 6:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office SLC FAA Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7172K
NTSB Number DEN05CA129
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18A-135
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-396
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 1924
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name On File
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Hotchkiss
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81419
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VEL
Departure City VERNAL
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CO20
Destination City Cedaredge
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 4:24PM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --